Diversity of Porifera in the Mediterranean coralligenous accretions, with description of a new species Author Bertolino, Marco Author Cerrano, Carlo Author Bavestrello, Giorgio Author Carella, Mirco Author Pansini, Maurizio Author Calcinai, Barbara text ZooKeys 2013 336 1 37 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.336.5139 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.336.5139 1313-2970-336-1 Paratimea oxeata Pulitzer-Finali, 1978 Figs 5 A-D Paratimea oxeata Pulitzer-Finali, 1978: 39. Material examined. Specimen SSS-BL1-F3A-spH; alcohol and dry state; Santo Stefano Shoals (station 1), 43°49'N , 7°54'E , depth 35 m, collected 14-02-2008. The specimen was entirely used for spicule preparations. Description . Very small (0.5 cm2) insinuating sponge (Fig. 5A) detected inside a cavity of a slice of a coralligenous block. Grey coloured in dry state. Skeleton. Not observed. Spicules. Macroscleres: oxeas in two size categories: I) large oxeas curved, bent or flexuous, with hastate tips (Fig. 5B), 810 (961.25) 1200 x 15 (18) 25 μm ; II) small oxeas curved or flexuous (Fig. 5C), 300 (546.6) 700 x 2.5 (4.75) 5 μm . Microscleres: oxyasters with more or less marked centrum with 9-12 conical rays, 25 (41.5) 60 μm in diameter. In some cases the number of rays is reduced (Fig. 5D). Figure 5. Paratimea oxeata . A Specimen in the coralligenous accretions (arrows) B Large oxeas C Small oxeas D Oxyasters. Distribution and discussion. The species wasdescribed from Naples ( Pulitzer-Finali 1978 ) where it occurred on rocky bottoms at 60-100 meter depth. This is a new record for the coralligenous assemblage and for the Ligurian Sea and it is probably endemic for the Mediterranean Sea ( Pansini and Longo 2008 ). This is its first finding after the original description.